<center><b>June 7: Cardinals 14, Astros 2</b></center>Astros right fielder Brian Bogusevic gets a new ball after giving up a home run to St. Louis Cardinals third baseman David Freese while pitching in mop up duty in the Cardinals 14-2 blowout win at Minute Maid Park. less

<center><b>June 7: Cardinals 14, Astros 2</b></center>Astros right fielder Brian Bogusevic gets a new ball after giving up a home run to St. Louis Cardinals third baseman David Freese while pitching in mop up ... more

Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle

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Astros catcher Chris Snyder, playing out of position at first base, commits an error as he drops a pop up during the ninth inning.

Astros catcher Chris Snyder, playing out of position at first base, commits an error as he drops a pop up during the ninth inning.

Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle

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Astros third baseman Chris Johnson checks out the view of the few fans left in the building while playing out of position in right field during the ninth inning.

Astros third baseman Chris Johnson checks out the view of the few fans left in the building while playing out of position in right field during the ninth inning.

Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle

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Astros first baseman Brett Wallace shatters his bat while hitting in the eighth inning.

Astros first baseman Brett Wallace shatters his bat while hitting in the eighth inning.

Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle

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Houston Astros right fielder Brian Bogusevic contributed to the delivery of 233 pitches in the game, the Astros most in a nine-inning game since Baseball-Reference pitch data started in 1988.

Houston Astros right fielder Brian Bogusevic contributed to the delivery of 233 pitches in the game, the Astros most in a nine-inning game since Baseball-Reference pitch data started in 1988.

Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle

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Cardinals third baseman David Freese (23) rounds the bases after hitting a home run off of Brian Bogusevic in the ninth inning.

Cardinals third baseman David Freese (23) rounds the bases after hitting a home run off of Brian Bogusevic in the ninth inning.

Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle

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Astros shortstop Jed Lowrie (4) can't complete a double play over the Cardinals' Rafael Furcal (15) on a ground ball by Carlos Beltran.

Astros shortstop Jed Lowrie (4) can't complete a double play over the Cardinals' Rafael Furcal (15) on a ground ball by Carlos Beltran.

Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle

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Astros relief pitcher Wesley Wright (53) gets a new ball as Cardinals third baseman David Freese rounds the bases after hitting a grand slam home run during the seventh inning.

Astros relief pitcher Wesley Wright (53) gets a new ball as Cardinals third baseman David Freese rounds the bases after hitting a grand slam home run during the seventh inning.

Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle

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Cardinals first baseman Allen Craig can't make a diving play on a single by Astros third baseman Chris Johnson.

Cardinals first baseman Allen Craig can't make a diving play on a single by Astros third baseman Chris Johnson.

Carlos Correa, the first pick of the 2012 Major League Baseball draft, waves to the crowd after donning a Houston Astros jersey and cap as he is introduced during the fourth inning of a game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Minute Maid Park on Thursday, June 7, 2012, in Houston. Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow is at left. ( Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle ) less

Carlos Correa, the first pick of the 2012 Major League Baseball draft, waves to the crowd after donning a Houston Astros jersey and cap as he is introduced during the fourth inning of a game against the St. ... more

Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle

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Houston Astros fans applaud Carlos Correa, the first pick of the 2012 Major League Baseball draft, as he is introduced during the fourth inning of a game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Minute Maid Park on Thursday, June 7, 2012, in Houston. Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow is at left. ( Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle ) less

Houston Astros fans applaud Carlos Correa, the first pick of the 2012 Major League Baseball draft, as he is introduced during the fourth inning of a game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Minute Maid Park on ... more

Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle

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Houston Astros shortstop Jed Lowrie hits a solo home run during the first inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Minute Maid Park on Thursday, June 7, 2012, in Houston.

Houston Astros shortstop Jed Lowrie hits a solo home run during the first inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Minute Maid Park on Thursday, June 7, 2012, in Houston.

Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle

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A ball off the bat of Houston Astros shortstop Jed Lowrie drops into the Crawford boxes for a solo home run during the first inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Minute Maid Park on Thursday, June 7, 2012, in Houston. less

A ball off the bat of Houston Astros shortstop Jed Lowrie drops into the Crawford boxes for a solo home run during the first inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Minute Maid Park on Thursday, June 7, ... more

Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle

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Houston Astros shortstop Jed Lowrie rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run during the first inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Minute Maid Park on Thursday, June 7, 2012, in Houston.

Houston Astros shortstop Jed Lowrie rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run during the first inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Minute Maid Park on Thursday, June 7, 2012, in Houston.

Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle

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Houston Astros starting pitcher J.A. Happ delivers during the first inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Minute Maid Park on Thursday, June 7, 2012, in Houston.

Houston Astros starting pitcher J.A. Happ delivers during the first inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Minute Maid Park on Thursday, June 7, 2012, in Houston.

Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle

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Carlos Correa, the first pick of the 2012 Major League Baseball draft by the Houston Astros, facing, gets a hug from St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina, a fellow Puerto Rican, during batting practice at Minute Maid Park on Thursday, June 7, 2012, in Houston. less

Carlos Correa, the first pick of the 2012 Major League Baseball draft by the Houston Astros, facing, gets a hug from St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina, a fellow Puerto Rican, during batting practice at ... more

Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle

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Carlos Correa, the first pick of the 2012 Major League Baseball draft, dons a Houston Astros jersey with the assistance of Astros General Manager Jeff Luhnow during a news conference announcing his signing by the club at Minute Maid Park before the Astros game against the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday, June 7, 2012, in Houston. less

Carlos Correa, the first pick of the 2012 Major League Baseball draft, dons a Houston Astros jersey with the assistance of Astros General Manager Jeff Luhnow during a news conference announcing his signing by ... more

Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle

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<center><b>June 6: Cardinals 4, Astros 3</b></center> Astros right fielder Fernando Martinez falls to the ground after missing a fly ball during the first inning of Wednesday's game at Minute Maid Park. less

<center><b>June 6: Cardinals 4, Astros 3</b></center> Astros right fielder Fernando Martinez falls to the ground after missing a fly ball during the first inning of Wednesday's game at Minute Maid ... more

Photo: James Nielsen / Chronicle

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Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina, left, tags out Jason Castro at home plate during the eighth inning.

Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina, left, tags out Jason Castro at home plate during the eighth inning.

Photo: James Nielsen / Chronicle

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Jose Altuve left speaks with Astros first base coach Bobby Meacham during the sixth inning.

Jose Altuve left speaks with Astros first base coach Bobby Meacham during the sixth inning.

Photo: James Nielsen / Chronicle

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Chris Johnson, right, slides past Cardinals third baseman David Freese after hitting a triple during the sixth inning.

Chris Johnson, right, slides past Cardinals third baseman David Freese after hitting a triple during the sixth inning.

Astros starting pitcher Lucas Harrell throws a pitch against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Astros starting pitcher Lucas Harrell throws a pitch against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Photo: James Nielsen / Chronicle

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Astros second baseman Jose Altuve misses catching the ball for an error.

Astros second baseman Jose Altuve misses catching the ball for an error.

Photo: James Nielsen / Chronicle

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Astros catcher Chris Snyder is tagged out by the St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Daniel Descalso after trying to stretch a single into a double.

Astros catcher Chris Snyder is tagged out by the St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Daniel Descalso after trying to stretch a single into a double.

Photo: James Nielsen / Chronicle

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Astros' comeback bid runs out of steam in loss to Cardinals

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In America’s favorite sport with no clock, the Astros were the better team for hours, and that’s probably the most frustrating part of a bizarre 4-3 loss that they suffered to the Cardinals on Wednesday night.

While they were no-hit until Jason Castro’s fifth-inning single, they still had their chances early, and besides, Bud Norris and the bullpen retired the last 20 Cardinals batters they faced.

The Astros outhit the Cardinals 12-7. They were easily the better defensive team, playing errorless ball while the Cardinals piled up three.

Yet there they were watching St. Louis celebrate on the field, because while the Astros were better for hours, they had no feel for moments.

The Cardinals had their few moments in the first inning before Norris got settled in, scoring three runs on four hits including a Daniel Descalso home run.

And the Astros had their moments set up, but they couldn’t take advantage, with 13 runners left on base compared to just two for St. Louis. And that was the real difference in the game.

“You look at the line with the number of hits we wound up with, and to think that we were no-hit going into that fifth inning,” manager Brad Mills said. “You see the guys really put some things together, but we left a lot of runners on.”

And the biggest moment of the game turned into seconds of panic and a situational mistake for the Astros.

They had crawled back to within 4-3, the bullpen doing work after an Allen Craig home run gave St. Louis a 4-0 lead. Marwin Gonzalez tried to bunt Castro over to second, and appeared to do even better when the throw to first was wild and down the right-field line. But the jubilation of a chance to swing the game toward the home team turned into their worst moment of the night.

The panic: Gonzalez had bruised his heel stepping on first base, leading Brad Mills to first scream for him to run to second, then rush onto the field to tend to his injured utility man who did somehow make it in there.

The mistake: Castro tried to score with nobody out and made the first out at home plate when Descalso made a perfect throw home to Yadier Molina, who applied the tag.

It all happened within a few seconds, and while the Astros would put a baserunner on twice in the ninth, it was a fitting turning point of a game where the team with all the chances for hours didn’t make enough of their moments.

zachary.levine@chron.com
twitter.com/zacharylevine

Cardinals 4, Astros 3

Tipping point: The Astros had a great chance to finish the comeback from 4-0 down when it was 4-3 in the eighth, and a bad throw sent Jason Castro and Marwin Gonzalez rounding the bases. But Castro was thrown out for the first out at home, and Gonzalez was injured at second with a pinch-runner later stranded.

On the mound: It was a strange game for Bud Norris, who gave up three runs in the first, a homer in the third and then finished by retiring his last 11 batters. He became the first NL pitcher this year to strike out 12 and not walk a batter.

At the plate: Fernando Martinez took center stage in the Astros’ frustring day of leaving runners on base. Martinez was 0-for-5 with three strikeouts including one with the bases loaded and another with two on to end the eighth. He left seven men on base and the team left 13.

Under the radar: Playing a man short on the bench has caused some odd moves for the Astros, the latest coming when they had to pinch-run for an injured Marwin Gonzalez and used J.A. Happ. Later in the inning, reliever Wesley Wright stepped in for Happ in the same spot when Brad Mills realized that Happ was set to be his Thursday starter and didn’t want him on the bases.